South Korean battery maker LG Chem, tech giant IBM, auto manufacturer Ford Motor and others have partnered in a blockchain project aimed at infusing transparency in the global mineral supply chain, impacting batteries used in smartphones and electric vehiceles. Specifically, the project will track cobalt mined in the Democratic Republic Congo. Cobalt is used in lithium-ion batteries and its demand and price has skyrocketed with the growth of electric vehicle and mobile device sectors. It is estimated that DR Congo produces around two-thirds of the world’s cobalt supplies. Environmental Sustainability and Human Rights Protections The goal of the project is